Ethan Salas Makes History With Multi-Homer Game
AI-generated image · Bay Street Wire
The Padres' top prospect becomes the youngest catcher in MLB history to hit two home runs in a single game during a victory over the Rockies.
San Diego Padres catcher Ethan Salas etched his name into the record books Wednesday night during a 9-3 win over the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. At 20 years and 107 days old, Salas became the youngest catcher in MLB history to hit two home runs in one game, as MLB first reported.
Salas, who was the top international prospect in the 2023 class and remains the Padres' top prospect per MLB Pipeline, launched a 426-foot projected blast off right-hander Mason Adams in the second inning and added a second home run against reliever Nick Frasso in the fifth. He is the youngest player at any position to achieve a multi-homer game since Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in 2019. Other players to do so at a younger age in the last two decades include Mike Trout, Bryce Harper, Juan Soto, and Manny Machado.
Beyond the offensive surge, Padres manager Craig Stammen praised Salas for his performance behind the plate. Veteran pitcher Robbie Ray, who threw to Salas for the first time on Wednesday, noted that the rookie was "great back there" and remained aligned with the gameplan throughout his six-inning outing.
Since Iván Rodríguez in 1991, Salas is the youngest player to appear behind the plate in the big leagues. While the Padres have utilized a tandem of Freddy Fermin and Luis Campusano for much of the second half, they promoted Salas to provide a left-handed bat for their postseason push. Following the win, the Padres moved 3 1/2 games ahead of the Arizona Diamondbacks in the National League Wild Card race.